Sunday 20 March 2011

20 March - International French Speakers Day - 20 mars - La Journée Internationale de la Francophonie

Félicitations a tous ceux qui parlent le français!  Aujourd’hui c’est la Journée international de la Francophonie. Bonne journée a tous!

Hope that’s right! Yes today around the French-speaking world people will be celebrating the French language in different ways, and hopefully, having a lot of fun at the same time.

As much as we might have hated studying French at school - a fault more to do with the way it was taught rather than the subject itself - it is truly one of the most remarkable world languages . I say that despite my own poor grasp of French!

So here are just a few facts to ponder*. It might just move you to take up those French night classes at your local further education college, or stir your love of French culture, or if nothing else motivate you to enjoy some French food and wine!

1.     There are an estimated 200 million French speakers worldwide
2.     There are just over 96 million French-speakers in Africa 
3.     French is an official language in 32 member states
4.     It is the 2nd most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union and one of the three “working languages” of EU institutions
5.     French is the 3rd most widely used language on the Web
6.     The French-speaking zone accounts for 19% of world trade in goods

Do you speak French? Why not leave a comment and share with us your plans for French Speakers Day? If you’re not a native French speaker, you can even leave a few tips about how you learnt French.


Wednesday 16 March 2011

If you've ever faced Spanish bureaucracy, watch this...

In most countries dealing with a Government agency is a pretty thankless task, and that is especially true in Spain where red tape is almost a national passion.

So here's just a little bit of humour the next time you have to deal with officialdom:


I've also been told it's the same in other countries, so it's not just a Spanish thing!